Staples blasts Newtown to reach Class LL final

Rich DePreta, Stamford Advocate

Rich DePreta, Staff Writer

Updated 10:11 pm, Saturday, December 3, 2011

Louis Fenaroli runs the ball with pressure from Staples' Nick Kelly during their class LL semifinal game at Bunnell High School in Stratford on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. Staples won 44-20.
Photo: Jason Rearick

Staples' Zach Mitchell runs the ball while under pressure from Newtown's Jefferson Tolson during their class LL semifinal game at Bunnell High School in Stratford on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. Staples won 44-20.
Photo: Jason Rearick

Staples quarterback Jack Massie is brought down after a short run by Newtown's Dan Hebert during their class LL semifinal game at Bunnell High School in Stratford on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. Staples won 44-20.
Photo: Jason Rearick

Staples' Jon Heil is brought down by Newtown's Justin Devellis, left, and Dan Hebert during their class LL semifinal game at Bunnell High School in Stratford on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. Staples won 44-20.
Photo: Jason Rearick

Staples' Joey Zelkowitz runs the ball with pressure from Newtown's Justin Devellis during their class LL semifinal game at Bunnell High School in Stratford on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. Staples won 44-20.

Newtown quarterback Andrew Tarantino readies for a throw during their class LL semifinal game against Staples at Bunnell High School in Stratford on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. Staples won 44-20.
Photo: Jason Rearick

Staples quarterback Jack Massie hands the ball off to Nick Kelly during their class LL semifinal game against Newtown at Bunnell High School in Stratford on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. Staples won 44-20.
Photo: Jason Rearick

Related Stories

STRATFORD -- One key intangible trait that separates a good football team from a great one is the ability to respond to an opponent's best shot.

Newtown High School and senior running back Lou Fenaroli hit the Staples High football team with a pair of rushing touchdowns in the opening six minutes of Saturday's Class LL semifinal clash at Bunnell High.

However, there was no panic on the Wreckers' sideline.

Staples closed to within four points early in the second quarter before Newtown marched down to the Staples 12 behind the aid of two Wreckers penalties.

Fourth down and a long one yard became waterloo for Newtown.

Fenaroli was crushed for a two-yard loss. Staples sophomore quarterback Jack Massie drove the Wreckers 85 yards in seven plays. A 20-yard scoring connection from Massie to James Frusciante gave Staples a three-point edge.

From there, Staples never looked back, rolling to a 44-20 triumph over Newtown. The win means No. 2 Staples (11-0) meets No. 1 Xavier of Middletown (12-0) for the Class LL title Friday or Saturday at Rentschler Field in East Hartford. Xavier -- the defending champion and winners of 25 straight -- ousted Norwalk, 55-14 Saturday.

"If we didn't stop Fenaroli on fourth down, Newtown probably goes up 21-10 and who knows what could have happened," Staples head coach Marce Petroccio said. "But that has been our character. We get challenged then we start playing. Our kids never quit. And they never stop believing."

And that's why Staples has the opportunity to add a Class LL crown to the 2011 FCIAC Championship already in its possession.

"Xavier is a great team. But we will be ready to go," Petroccio said. "Don't forget we are the last team to beat Xavier (two seasons ago)."

No. 6 Newtown (9-3) put up a great fight Saturday, but Staples had too many weapons for the Nighthawks to defend. It began with Massie, who was the consummate field general. He completed 12 of 16 passes for 215 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Massie found James Frusciante (five receptions, 146 yards) on scoring connections of 54 and 20 yards. Massie's 10-yard strike to Nick Kelly with just 28.2 seconds left gave Staples a 24-14 halftime edge.

"We knew we'd have to throw the ball today," Petroccio said. "Jack's passing was precise and we had a lot of completions on first down."

Massie kept Newtown at bay with a pair of one-yard TD plunges in the third quarter.

The deficit was too much for Newtown to overcome. The Staples defense forced four turnovers including a trio of second half interceptions. Newtown quarterback Andrew Tarantino was 7 of 7 passing in the first half but 9 of 18 with three interceptions in the second half.

The 5-foot-10, 210-pound Fenaroli, who is never armtackled, rushed for 91 yards on 12 carries in the first half but added just 27 yards on six carries after intermission.

Newtown's speedy Dan Hebert was bottled up throughout by the Wreckers.

"We had the momentum. When they stopped us on fourth down and one, that's where the game turned," Newtown head coach Steve George said. "After that, Staples' passing attack hurt us."

In short, FCIAC champion Staples played like an FCIAC champion. Staples junior running back and leading rusher Joey Zelkowitz -- who played sparingly in the FCIAC title game and sat out the LL quarterfinals -- returned to action in the second half collecting 121 yards on 10 carries.

"I was proud of our effort. But today was a good lesson for the kids coming back next season," George said. "We need to finish these playoff games. We had Staples on the ropes. But they got off the ropes by making big play after big play."